Rara Royal Expedition (KK)

Overview

Tour feature: 7th-17^th century monuments in Surkhet and Dailekh, interesting traditional colorful wooden bridges and traditional watermills in Sinja valley, unique culture and ancient human civilization, exotic nature, fabulous Kanjirowa Himalaya, queen of mother nature Rara - the biggest lake of Nepal, beautiful Rara National Park and its rare floral and faunal species, scenic mountain flights.

Trip information:

Located on the northern part of Mid Western Nepal, Rara region is an ancient kingdom of KHAS Empires. It is said that 8th-14th century, Khas empire territory was stretched from Surkhet valley in the south to Sinja valley in the north. Dailekh was the winter kingdom while Sinja was the summer kingdom of the Khas Empire. Nepali Debnagari language was introduced from the Khas kingdom. There is very interesting classic culture and typical lifestyle of mountain locals. You see interesting colorful wooden bridges, traditional villages of common mountain houses as well as thatched mud-rock houses and flagged shrines.

Rara National Park is named by the lake Rara- the biggest lake of Nepal. This is a natural paradise where you see wonderful panorama of Kanjirowa, Mangri, Saipal, Sisne Himal, Chanki Lek and small hills and hillocks. Surrounding Himalayan beauty, tranquility of Rara Lake (biggest lake of Nepal), exhibition of rare flora and fauna in Rara National Park and vibrant color of nature allure everyone. Ripley rediscovered the most famous spiny babbler from this region, which was not reported for 150 years. The park is famous for the most beautiful, peaceful and biggest lake of the country and its unique formation, musk deer, Himalayan black beer, leopard, Danfe - national bird of Nepal, goral, Himalayan thar, yellow throated marten, wild boar, langur (black faced white monkey), rhesus macaque, the migrant waterfowl, great-crested grebe, black-crested grebe, red crested grebe, snow cock, white crested pheasant, blood pheasant, chukor and other Himalayan wetland species, dense forest, pasturelands, beautiful landscape and great Himalaya panorama and its reflection on the lake.

Package Itineary

Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu (1310m), hotel

Arrive Kathmandu, transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu, fly to Surkhet (680m), hotel

After breakfast, visit UNESCO heritage site Pashupatinath complex, transfer to airport then fly to Surkhet. You admire the wonderful Himalaya range from the right side window of the plane. Transfer to hotel. Have lunch then visit Deuti Bajei Temple, Bulbule Lake colorful botanical garden and Kakre Bihar- 8^th century monument of Hindu and Buddhist in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight.

Day03: Drive to Dailekh (1430m) 120km, explore Dailekh, approx. 5 hour, camp

Have breakfast, drive to Dailekh through cultivated fields, forests, river valleys, hills and settlements. Visit Koti Lingeshwor Temple in Chhamgad Island to be worshipped for good rain. You also visit Sirasthan temples premises where you see eternal holy flame in the temple. Arrive the camp, have lunch. Village tour in the afternoon. We start camping from today in which our professional kitchen staff serve hygienic delicious organic fresh food prepared in the our kitchen. We will have kitchen tent, dinning tent, guests tents and toilet tents.

Day04: Explore 8th century artistic shrines in Dailekh, camp

Have breakfast, full day is dedicated to explore interesting 8^th-14^th century civilization, holy shrines and stone inscriptions. Visit Sirasthan & Navisthan eternal Divine fire flames worshipped as Gods, Belaspur Temple (housed Batuk Bhairab statue) built up in 1418AD by Sansari Burma as a family God, Bindhyabasini temple and stone columns(Dewals), Baleshwor Shiwalaya housed over 400 years old statues of Shiva Lingam and Buddhist, Dhuleshwor Temple built up in 12th century, Dewals in Badalamji, oldest stone inscriptions at Sauna Karki’s Dewal and Karkyani Dewal in Paduka Bhagawanpau built up in 1255AD by Sinja’s Empire Ashoka Challa and Dullu Dharma Gaddi, Paduka’s 12^th century statues. Have lunch then continue exploring the traditional villages and typical lifestyle. Dinner and overnight.

Day 05: Drive to Tadi (1780m), 110km, 6 hour, camp

Have breakfast, drive to Tadi through beautiful hills, exciting meandering road along Karnali River valley, confluence of Karnali and Tila, farmlands and Manma- the district headquarters of Kalikot. Scenic drive along the river valley is very interesting. You can spend some time in Jite Bazar to observe lifestyle of locals and a beautiful confluence of Karnali and Tila River. Manma is a interesting beautiful ridge between Karnali and Tila River valleys where are black rocks scattered along the mountain crest. Dinner and overnight in camp.

Day 06: Drive to Nagma (2080m), 40km, 7-8 hour, landscape and lifestyle, camp

After having breakfast, drive along the Tila River valley to the right where you see interesting steep rocky mountains, narrow Tila gorge, thundering waterfalls, razing river through huge boulders, traditional villages, typical lifestyle of locals and terraced farmlands in the hill slopes. Have lunch on the way. Arrive Nagma bazar, explore it in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight.

Day 07: Drive to Salleri Rara Lake (2945m), 75km, 6 hour, landscape and lifestyle, camp

Breakfast, the first half of the day, is dedicated to explore the 8th-14th century summer kingdom of Khas Empire Sinja valley where you see colorful traditional villages, clay dung plastered mud-rock houses, interesting, artistic, colorful and well decorated wooden bridges, people working in farmlands and villages, harvesting and drying crops and terraced farmlands. Kanka Sundari was the family goddess of the Khas Empire but these days you can just see ruined monuments atop a hill of Kanka Sundari Temple. Driving through traditional villages in the valley, Rara National Park and beautiful hill of Talcha airport, is itself a interesting experience of unique nature and culture. We camp in a beautiful meadow by the Rara Lake.

Day 08-09: Explore Rara Lake, queen of mother nature, camp

The days are dedicated to explore tranquil Rara Lake and its natural beauty. After breakfast, the first day, hike to along the lake towards northwest where the water of the lake drains out then hike continue to the Rara Mahadev temple and national park military post where one can start boating in the late. This is the biggest lake of Nepal located at the top of the mountain surrounded by dense forests. It seems very interesting that how it is formed! The reflection of Kanjirowa, Kimri and Magri Himal as well as nearby forested hills on the lake surface is heart alluring. If you are interested to view the overall geomorphology of the lake you can go to Murma Top (3665m) that provides wonderful scenery of the lake and its surrounding. The next day, you can ascend towards Ghurchi Lek meadows where you may see musk deer, wild boar, yellow throated marten, black faced white monkey, Danfe-national bird of Nepal, raven, kalij pheasant, red panda and wild cat. You see wonderful view of the lake and its interesting geomorphology, beautiful landscape, settlements, Karnali River valley, Kanjirowa, Mangri and Saipal Himal ranges. You can have pack lunch or fresh lunch. Dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Drive to Bhulbhule (3270m) via Karkibada and Gamgadhi, 46km, 6 hour, camp

After having breakfast, drive back to Bhulbhule via Gamgadhi Chhayanath valley. People who have short time to do trek for the lake, can fly in/out of Talcha airport. We drive to Karkibada through the airport, observe interesting lifestyle of mountain locals. You see traditional village of thatched roof houses where the crop is drying on the roof top. After observing classic culture in the village, drive to Gamgadi- the district headquarters of Mugu then drive continue to Chhayanath and Pina traditional villages. You have great time to experience unique nature and classic culture in Mugu Karnali valley to the northeast of Rara national park. Drive back to Bhulbhule- the exit point of the national park. Have lunch on the way. Arrive the camp, dinner and overnight.

Day 11: Drive to Jumla (2370m), about 40km, 6-7 hour, camp

Breakfast, drive to Jumla via Bumra valley. It is a scenic drive through beautiful river valley, grasslands, terraced farmlands and traditional villages. You see classic culture and beautiful landscape while driving. Have lunch on the way. Arrive the camp. Relax in the afternoon. Today is the last day of the jeep tour, we release jeeps today. Dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Explore Jumla, hotel

The day is dedicated to explore and enjoy interesting culture and lifestyle of Indo-Aryan people, visit Chandannath Temple premises, traditional villages and town. You will have food and accommodation at teahouse today. Relax in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight.

Day 13: Fly to Nepalgunj and Kathmandu, hotel

After breakfast, we fly to Nepalgunj then to Kathmandu from another flight. Depending on time of the flights, we have lunch in Nepalgunj or in Kathmandu. Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swoyambhunath stupa in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight.

Day 14: Explore Kathmandu, hotel

The day is dedicated to explore medieval era architectural cities of Bhaktapur and Patan where you see interesting artistic temples, palaces, water fountains, paved streets, interesting Thanka paintings, wooden, stone and metal arts shops, clay pottery, traditional Newari houses and their classic culture, and feasts and occasionally wheeled chariots festivals. Have Nepali lunch with host family. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 15: Fly back home.

Have breakfast, transfer to airport, end of service, fly back home.

Detailed Trip Cost

Entire trip cost per person (USD): $2,999 // 1pax complimentary for above 10 paid guests in group.

Trip cost includes: All accommodation (twin sharing basis) & food; three meals a day -breakfast, lunch and dinner (except bar bill), insured crew (guide, assistants, drivers and necessary kitchen crew), all essential permits, all domestic transportation as per the itinerary, service charge and government taxes.

Trip cost does not include: International airfare, Nepal visa, your travel insurance, personal expenses (like laundry, communication, alcohol, cold drinks), tips to serving crew, emergency evacuation, extra cost due to natural and political causes such as landslides, unrest, strikes etc, expenses of extra hotel & other services abandoning the trip before/after scheduled, and cost not mentioned in includes section.

Payment system

80% of total trip budget must be paid in advance (the amount should be appeared to our account just two weeks before the trips) for domestic transportation, permits, hotel bookings reconfirmation and essential preparations.
Balance can be paid before or during/after the trip.

Refund system
In case of trip cancellation in the last 10 days of group arrival, 50% of the deposited amount will be deducted. If the trip cancels 10 days before the group arrival, we settle the full amount in next trip.

Special Feature

8^th-14^th century monuments in Surkhet and Dailekh, interesting traditional colorful wooden bridges and traditional watermills in Sinja valley, unique culture and ancient human civilization, exotic nature, fabulous Kanjirowa Himalaya, queen of mother nature Rara - the biggest lake of Nepal, beautiful Rara National Park and its rare floral and faunal species, scenic mountain flights.